University Communication

Multimedia

UH Student Aaron Casey Returns from 'Masterclass' with Bobby McFerrin

July 20, 2011-Houston-

University
of Houston sophomore Aaron Casey learns from some of the best music professors
in the country. Recently, his education took a new turn as he received lessons
from vocal legend and Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin as part of HBO documentary
series “Masterclass.”

“Masterclass”
pairs young creative spirits with award-winning artists for lessons in an
intimate classroom environment. Casey was selected by McFerrin to participate
in the program following his performances during 2011 Young Arts Week in Miami
in May. Casey and four other students worked
with McFerrin within the Germany’s largest opera house Festspielhaus
Baden-Baden. The next season of “Masterclass” is scheduled to air in spring
2012.

“Working
with Bobby McFerrin was great,” Casey said. “He was very humble and easy to
work with. We focused mainly on improvisation. He wanted us to feel the music
and told us not to practice repetitively to get something correct. Instead, we
were instructed to engage our minds and souls with the music. He said that when
we let go and live in the music, our art will be perfect. As long as we don’t
worry about being perfect, we’ll be perfect.”

Improvisation
is not a new concept for Casey, who grew up singing in church. He admitted,
however, that applying improvisational skills to classical music was a fresh
concept.

“It
was fun to think outside of the box and just sing,” he said. “I learned that
any mistakes made while singing can be transformed into corrections.”

Casey’s
musical goal is to perform opera, so learning in German’s noted Festspielhaus
Baden-Baden was particularly special. With its rich history, he admitted that
he felt right at home on stage.

Before
meeting McFerrin, Casey was mainly familiar with his talents through the 1988
pop hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He also knew about the popular singer’s musical
lineage.

“I know that his father Robert
McFerrin was a famous opera singer,” Casey said. “I also know that Bobby
McFerrin worked on a version of ‘Porgy and Bess’ to honor him and that he has
worked with numerous orchestras.”

A
native of Fort Worth, Texas, Casey came to UH to take advantage of the
opportunities within the Moores School of Music. He is a member of the school’s
award-winning Moores Concert Chorale and plans to audition for upcoming Moores
Opera Center productions.

“I
looked at other universities and conservatories and felt that UH was the best
place to learn and grow as a musician,” he said. “I researched several schools
and I saw opportunities for me within the vocal program at UH. It’s not too
big, but it’s still very competitive. It’s the place for me to be right now.”